Changning.
The sky shifted.
To the south, Wu Light blazed brilliantly. Divine Envoys, soldiers, and Daoists crossed the mountains and arrayed themselves at Huayin. Great banners streamed, long halberds thrust skyward, and a vast expanse of mysterious yellow essence gathered above them.
Du Yuan built an altar of yellow earth and climbed it to perform a sacrifice, chanting invocations. Yet he summoned neither ghosts nor gods, calling instead upon heaven and earth, using all manner of profound witchcraft to bless the sovereign atop Mount Hua.
When the rites were finished, he descended, and someone beside him immediately stepped forward to ask a question.
It was Wei Cun, the former head of the Wei family, the reigning emperor's birth father, and a cultivator of the Subduing Earth path at the purple mansion middle stage.
"Sacrificial Official Du, now that the sacrifice is complete, are we to advance? Which mighty general has His Majesty dispatched to open the way?"
His expression grew even graver as he asked.
As [Minister of War], he was responsible for deploying troops and arranging formations.
Yet His Majesty had issued not a single decree and refused even to see his own birth father. Troubled and bitter at heart, Wei Cun had seized this opportunity to ask.
"Advance? A mighty general?"
There was a hint of puzzlement in Du Yuan's voice. Then he seemed to understand, and amusement entered his eyes. "True Person Su Cun, do you imagine this is a battle between two mortal armies? First the troops assemble in formation, then the generals charge into the fray, while His Majesty sits behind the lines devising strategy?"
"Isn't that-"
"True Person Su Cun... you are mistaken."
As Emperor An's foremost close minister, Du Yuan still dared not slight Wei Cun. Besides being His Majesty's birth father, the